It has been a turbulent year for tourism in Europe, with an array of anti-tourism protests, cruise crackdowns and taxes being introduced. The Express has pulled together a list of all the new rules that could impact you while travelling in Europe this year, so you’re not caught out when you visit.
Rentals in Spain
Restrictions may affect how many flats are on offer this year, as flats registered after February 2024 that don’t have their own entrances will have their licenses permanently revoked. However, Airbnb-style rentals can still be booked. Moreover, in Malaga, short-term lets are banned in 43 neighbourhoods, Barcelona plans to phase out tourist apartment rentals by 2028, and restrictions are in place in Alicante and Madrid. You also may need to provide extra details when staying at accommodation or renting a car as part of new tourism rules, such as your nationality, address, phone number, and email address.
Cruises
Various cities have limited the number of cruises that can enter their ports, however your cruise company will adjust the itinerary, so it isn’t something you need to rearrange.
Some places have enforced higher tourist taxes for cruises, such as Santorini and Mykonos, which will charge €20 (£16.5) for cruise passengers in response to receiving 20,000 in a single day last year.
Other locations in Greece charge €5 (£4.14). Cruise ship passengers staying in Barcelona for more than 12 hours will need to pay €6.25 (£5.17).
Tourism limits
Some places have capped tourist numbers to help maintain the local area, and slots may need to be booked in advance, such as the Acropolis in Athens, which is capped at 20,000 visitors per day.
Pompeii has also introduced a 20,000 visitor cap per day for 2025, and in Rome, the Colosseum is capped at 3,000 visitors at any one time.
Tourist taxes in Greece
Across Greece, tourists will have to pay an €8 (£6.62) tourist tax per day, but some places don’t charge or offer a reduced rate for children.
On top of this, all hotels, Airbnbs and villas charge a Climate Resilience Tax at check-in, ranging from €1.50 (£1.24) for the most basic lodgings up to €10 (£8.27) per night for luxury hotels.
In the off-peak season from April to October, the tourist tax is reduced to €2 (£1.65) per day, and the environmental tax to between €0.50 (41p) and €4 (£3.30) a day.
Tourist taxes in Italy
Most of the larger cities in Italy require the payment of a tourist tax, but each region dictates its own charges, so it varies throughout the country.
In Rome, it ranges from €3 (£2.28) to €7 (£5.79) depending on the standard of accommodation; in Milan, it’s between €2 (£1.65) and €5 (£4.14); and in Florence, it is from €1 (83p) to €5 (£4.14).
In Venice, day visitors arriving between 18 April and 27 July on Friday to Sunday or a public holiday will need to pay €5, which rises to €10 if the booking is made less than four days in advance.
Tourist taxes in Spain
In Barcelona, visitors pay a city tax amouting to €4 (£3.30) per night, and a regional tourist tax which ranges from €1.70 (£1.41) a night for basic hotels to €3.50 (£2.90) for luxury accommodation.
In the Balearic Islands, a green tax ranges from €1 (83p) for hostels and campsites up to €4 per person per night for luxury hotels. In Seville, there are plans to charge tourists €3 (£2.48) to €4 (£3.30) to visit the Plaza de España, but this has not been given the go-ahead yet.
Tourist taxes in Portugal
Each municipality in Portugal creates its own rules, so it varies from place to place. At least 26 of the 306 areas in the country currently require the payment of a tourist tax. Lisbon city, Madeira and Faro charge €2 (£1.65) per night, and the Azores also began charging €2 (£1.65) per night in January 2025.
Tourist taxes elsewhere in Europe
In Paris, visitors will pay a regional tax and tourist tax, which ranges from as little as €1.95 (£1.61) for campsites and up to €15.60 (£12.90) per person per night for luxurious accommodation.
Amsterdam has raised its tax for visitors from 7% to 12.5% of the accommodation cost. For example, a hotel costing €175 (£144) a night would have an extra €21.80 (£18.30) per night in taxes.